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Sunday, December 30, 2007

As 2007 will quickly be closing, it is a perfect time to do the 2007 team kit year in review: HOT or NOT.

Cycling clothing is inherently awkward: shorts with built in suspenders, pockets in the back of shirts that get stuffed and bulge out all weird, and zippers down the front on a shirt that has a stand-up collar. Team kit designers are not only challenged by the aforementioned design and material of cycling clothes, but then they must somehow put together a bunch of disperring corporate logos and slap them on strange places like shoulders, hip bones, tail bones, etc. These logos often have different colors, styles, and font types. Thus, putting these all together in an entire assembly that matches and looks pleasant is difficult to boot. On top of the difficult of sponsorship placement & matching, kit designers must make these all fit into a nice color scheme and design. On top of that, cyclists have differing body types, and making a kit that is flattering on both the climber and sprinter is another challenge.

While these are all challenges kit designers face, some do a much better job than others. Some kits are outright hideous, others tolerable, and the rare few- hot.

I decided to do a 2007 year in review of some local team kits, going on an up or down basis, HOT or NOT. Now, who am I to be saying whether things are hot or not? Well, I am the mystery blogger for December 30th. That means I can call your team "not hot" if I want. However, I will not claim to be the fashion guru, as in my everyday life I have terrible fashion sense. Some may disagree with me. Normally, I would say: "too bad. I am the mystery blogger on december 30th," but i like consensus all that hippy shity, so I have created a survey that you can fill out as you read this post. Open another window, vote, and I will post the results later in the day. [addendum: i tried to make a survey monkey survey, but it would only let me do 10 questions for free without upgrading, so no survey for you. please put your opinions in the comment section. sorry]

As I was doing some very techinical research on google, trying to determine whether kits were hot or not, I had so few "hots" that I had to lower my standards. [Lowering standards seems to be the theme of 2007.] I revised my critia, so that a large number of people wouldn't get bad self-esteem from this post.

What did I base things on? Well, I would like to say that I had some measuring stick, but I just kinda went with my gut. I looked for a few things: good complementary colors, appropriate font, how logos were placed, how things "tied in", and how different kits looked in action. This last piece was interesting, because some kits did not look good great while people were standing, but they looked good on the bike. Moreover, I held a different standard for different teams. For instance, I held some higher-level teams that have more money (and perhaps paid a designer) to a higher standard to some local clubs that may not even have sponsorships on their jersey.

AMD MastersHOT. The old farts know how to do it. AMD kits tie in very nicely; the royal blue and black look nice together and the sponsorship placement is not overbearing. Years and years on the bike not only make cut calves as can be seen on the left, but also result in a keen sense of bike kit fashion.

BBC HOT.While these kits could be a bit too patriotic for my taste, something about them works. They don't look that great when people are standing around, but in action, the dark blue and dark red create a commanding presence. Classy. The shorts are especially nice.

BPG/RH VillaHOT.Green and red? At first, I'd say blech as it seems like a bad Christmas card, but these jersey just look good. Really good. Maybe it is just this ultra-sexy picture and non-masters men's hot legs. But I think it is really the hats. Those hats are really hot. Actually, maybe it is just all the glamor shot pictures on this website that make these kits looks so good, but no, i actually think these are pretty hot kits.

Cal GiantNOT.Blech. Strawberries, I'm sorry, but these are hiddeous. That strawberry on the front looks dumb. The color looks terrible, it is just unattractive in general. A shame, because I think sponsoring a strawberry company, you could have made something really hot kits that was all red. These just look pretty cheesy.

ColavitaNOT.This color scheme just sucks. There is way too much going on in this kit. Moreover, the font type stinks and I do not like where the sponsor's name is placed.

CRC HillNOT.I realize that when you are sponsoring some real estate company that sells multi-million dollar estates, you are trying to look classy, but in your attempt to look so classy, you just look like one big sissy. Dude, you are wearing spandex, this is not high society. A thin and dainty font like Garamond or whatever it is makes the riders look feeble and weak. The font needs to be beefed up and some more creative use of colors is needed.

Davis Bike ClubNOT.Please. This is just color overkill. That much of any color on a jersey would look stupid. Try some stripes or panels or something. Ugh.

Dolce VitaHOT.When I first saw this jersey, I thought "cursive font?" that is dumb. But, I think these kits are quite attractive. The navy, orange, and white are quite complementary. I think the kit designer did a fine job of placing lots of sponosrs and still tying in a theme. Well done. Plus, this is a cute picture.

Eagle RacingNOT.Lots of things can go on cycling jersies. Words, logos. Big pictures of eagles (or anything else for that matter) do not look good on a team kit. I will stick to my conviction that pictures are for commemorative jersies given out for completing a century, tour, or other such event...not for a team kit.

EMC/VellumNOT. This is terrible. That speckled grey looks really stupid. Who thought the fade out was a good idea? And then that red? This has got to be one of the worst looking jersies in the NorCal peleton. I hear this team is changing sponosrs or something, so hopefully they will put some more care into designing this kit better.

Fremont FreewheelersNOT.

This blue isn't royal blue it is aqua. And that is gross! Black and aqua paneling. This is not an acquarium. Plus, it appears the shorts are a different shade of blue. That is not good. I do not like these colors at all, and do not feel any design will improve such a terrible aqua.

ICCCNOT.This jersey isn't as terrible as some others (see above), but what pushed it to the not was thechecker board down the front. What's up with that? That is dumb. I know that cyclists race in circles a lot, but this is not the indy 500.

Left CoastNOT.Sorry left coast; this jersey had potential being that it was green and could have done something interesting, as there aren't many green teams. But it just ruined it with that neon green trim. Eww! What were they thinking? Moreover, this jersey automatically got a not hot for the picture on the landscape and biker. This looks like a jersey you get for completing a century, not a team kit. I do not like pictures on team kits.

Los GatosNOT.I like red. I like yellow. But this red/yellow combo just doesn't do it. I think the overall design and triangle looks good; it is just the color scheme that is whack. They do a great job of putting lots of sponsors on the jersey in a logical fashion—I think if the color scheme was changed, this jersey might bump into the hot category.

Metromint NOT. I'm sorry, but I couldn't put polka dots in the "hot" category. Team kit designers can only design good looking team kits so long as the corporate sponsorship has a nice logo. The thing is, metromint has very nice looking products, a stellar website, and a great font type. I think if the polka dots were smaller—very tiny dots – instead of these big ones, that could be better. In addition, I don't like how the bibs tie into the jerseys.

Morgan StanleyHOT.Looking at this jersey standing still, I think it is pretty boring. But it looks good on the bike, and that is the most important. There is nothing outright bad about this jersey. It is simple, nice colors, nice paneling...and, good enough. Hot? Well, I said I was lowering my standards. The Morgan Stanley team kit is like the "40 yr old marriage pact" you make with your best friend.

NorCal VeloHOT.These look good. The colors go nicely together and the font is nice. I also think the jersey design is pretty solid. Nice short paneling also.PenVeloNOT.There is nothing outright that I can think of why I don't like this jersey; I just don't. Something about it rubs me the wrong way…but nothing I can pinpoint. Perhaps it is the arcs on the jersey. The thing is, it isn't nearly in the same category as EMC/Vellum-- it is quite borderline, but I am getting tired and so am being more picky. Whatever, the peninsula is full of graphic computer designers; they should have something off the hook.

PROMAN

HOT.This has got to be one of the best looking jersies. The baby blue looks great and the red just pops out so nicely in that cool font. I think the kit designer did a good job of placing everything and tying it together. Plus, these ladies just look like tough shit in this jersey when they are moving, and as gorgeous as anything on the podium. This jersey looks good both standing still and moving fast.

ProTechNOT.Yuck. Yeah, you'd think less is more with all this black, but this is just boring and there is nothing going on here. Some side panels are needed. Also, that big sun looks stupid. This logo should be tiny.

Roaring MouseNOT.Not only is this yellow the most hideous shade of yellow, but it looks dorky with that font. I'd suggest changing the yellow to less orange and change the off-color to grey, and then make a better font.

Rock LobsterNOT.These are gross. Why would anyone think seafoam green was a good color? No. Pastels make people look weak. On principal I have to say this is an ugly kit.San Jose Bike ClubHOT.Props to SJBC. There is nothing special about these jersies, but I think they are pretty good club jersies, with nice side paneling. Nothing fancy; basic, simple, and good.Safeway HOT. These look good—the bright white letters on black really bring things out. It was also a way to tie together logos that otherwise wouldn't have matched.

SpineNOT. I don't know why, but I just don't like it. There are too many colors. The yellow and blue look silly together and there is too much white.

SquadraHOT.This is one I would say I shouldn't like because of the yellow strip, but these actually look really good in action. I think the paneling and use of black accents is done extraordinarily well.

Team OaklandHOT.These look good. I like the coloring, minus that blue font in the middle with kaiser permemente. Something needs to be done about this. But, the orange and white works well, and the paneling design is aces.

TibcoHOT.This are very, very attractive jersies. The lettering looks good and the light color is very hot on these ladies.

TouchstoneNOT.There isn't anything going on. It is so plain. The royal blue just sits there, blah. It just needs some sort of excitement, some sort of design, some panels, something.

Value ActHOT.These are great looking jersies. At first you might think red, white, & blue? But it doesn't matter- these are wonderfully designed and makes me think these ladies are even hotter! This is a perfect jersey to contrast with touchstones: same colors, but look at the superior use of accents and paneling, espectially on key areas like the their and biceps.

VanderkittenNOT.I'm sorry, but a huge kitty on the front doesn't make me think I'll kick ass, regardless of the logo say. Or that pink plaid version kit, that is even worse. I think that looks silly. Why didn't you just make these jersies in baby tee's? I am traditionalist and I do not like big logos on the chest.

Velo BellaNOT.I just don't like pictures. Like above, a picture of girl riding a bike, much like a cat, doesn't seems to make for a hardcore jersey. I much prefer use of font and paneling for accents, not pictures.

Velo Girls NOT.No picture, but the hot pink is just so obtrusive it makes me think this is a junior high team.

VOSNOT.The font is just too much. I think that there needs to be more work on the paneling; it is too plain. This jersey attempted to do well, but I think it just came up short. More needs to be going on, especially on the front.

Webcor HOT.These are great looking jersies….but only on the women's team. I don't know why, but I think they look silly on men, but great on women. Perhaps the green is a smigen darker on the men's kits? Perhaps the big WEBCOR across the chest only looks good on breasts? I dunno, but this hot is only for YYs.

Disclaimer: I had glasses and braces until 8th grade; wore tapered leg jeans (before skinny jeans were cool) until 11th grade, was in the marching band, and owned enough Christmas sweatshirts made out of puffy paint that i could wear a different one to school for two weeks before Christmas.

Bold post mystery blogger! Particularly since you took on the sacred cow of Velo Bella. Good call on Dolce Vita. The orange, white, and navy blue colors look great on them, as well as on Rabobank and the Detroit Tigers.

People who played in a marching band are automatically disqualified from making HOT or NOT statements about anyone's jersey.Especially when they think that Gawd Damn ugly ass green that Alto Velo has been in since the day lycra was invented looks Hot.

Alto Velo has used a number of greens over the years. We went from a day glow green to no green at all the years we had blue and yellow. The next series of kits were a royal blue and primary green. That we had for 4 years. The green used in this series is a custom color used for both the pro and club clothing. The problem I see with this sort of survey is that people are not always objective. I they like the team, they like the clothes and visa versa.I like the Easton kit. Colors a great, really stand out on the road. Also Pen Velo with their retro look is very attractive.

Jersey design is not objective. Everyone has an opinion on the topic, very few people agree on everything. Being a jersey designer (Webcor) I understand the process. One of the hardest things from my perspective is the take the design from 2 to 3-D. Clothes never look the same on the computer compared to when someone is wearing them. We have key objectives: Sponsors must be visible from the bike and standing; make the jersey slimming, always going for that "V" look, wide shoulders and narrow waste. (Not everyone has that shape, so things do get a little complicated.)It does not matter what the final product is, some people like it, some don't. Too much yellow, not enough yellow, don't like the yellow (or the green). Too much white space, not enough white. The design is always evolving, every year it is different. When we finally get it to work, the next year, the entire design changes. Go figure.

In defense of the Velo Girls (OK, I'm not unbiased) and Velo Bella kits, they are not supposed to appeal to those with Y cromosone. They are women's teams. The kits are supposed to be the antithesis of boyish tastes in clothing. They are supposed to scream "I am hardcore, but I don't have to look like a man."

Oh, and I love SJBC, but you are smoking crack. Their new kit looks pretty modern, but the old one - snoozarama. Deep navy blue does not go with black. And, the jersey was practically illegible.

FFBC and Davis are HOT in my opinion. Visually exciting, bold, and easy to read. Easy to see in the peloton. What's not to like?

if velogirl is right -- well, looking at courtney's blog, she doesn't spell things wrong as much as martina does, and there are a lot of mistakes in this post. and she does let her personal dislikes of people color her world.

Some good points, nonetheless, were made. Sea foam green is a great concept, and the bikes look beautiful...but that color of lobster doesn't scare me. Don't matter how big his pincers are.

And clearly the Morgan Stanley was one of the beneficiaries of your lower standards if the 40 yr. old marriage pact counts as "hot." Sorry, but "adequate to fall back on" sounds more accurate. That said, seeing James Coats gritting his teeth at nationals in that jersey gives it automatic street cred.

The Webcor is also...adequate, but for long time club members perhaps it is worn with relief considering the day-glo of years past.

Haha..I remember having snippets of this conversation with a certain someone while races whirled around us. I remember the green comment and the LGBRC

and I thought it was the pink in our jersey you didn't like, not the picture?

Just a note on the Vanderkitten jersey. I'm not a fan of the pink plaid version either, but I do like the black one (of course, I am biased towards pictures of kitties on jersies) There is this picture of Liz winning some crit in the VK jersey and its pretty bad ass. (she was only a 3 and it was a 1-2 crit) Not just because she won, but because she's doing that snarling ferocious face that you have to make to win a pack sprint. Which is a good juxtaposition.

I am certainly pleased to see Team Oakland on the Hot list, but really, our new stuff for '08 is just drop dead sexy!!! I also like Freewheels kits, the dark green and classic design look great, and the collared wool jerseys Rick had his peeps wearing last year are pretty rad. Montano Velo Track team, with Brown on it makes for a sexy skinsuit.

Curious as to exactly, when you figure it out, why you don't like the Pen Velo kit. I helped design the original version of this several years ago and I do NOT like the revision they did after we switched kit vendors. It's definitely lacking in originality at this point.

Maybe large chain stores should stop stereotyping women into only liking florally print designs & frilly shit. No wonder women athletes are often not taken seriously with designs that look like it something that is worn by grade school girls, not adults.

sheeeeeeit, we are already riding bikes in tight spandex with helmets and our pockets packed and funny shoes with sock looking covers and weight training gloves all the while straining to be aero...

I dont think we need any extra help looking the fool on the road.

I have to say these last two years with the leaf on my kit I have not had one half empty gatoraid bottle chucked at me or a loooogy spat in my face. The two prior in webkore kits I ducking and dodging monthly....

I hope the black/orange/white has the same bottle effect, I know they didn't get rated here but shit you don't have to rate it, it was used for the definition of HOT.....

I am flattered we were invited to the party of Local teams!! That is awesome, and although our kits weren't the favorites of this reviewer, it's great to see how they stand out in this selection of local teams.

This is the last time Olaf should let Stevie Wonder review bike kits. Oakland? Berkeley? You can't even read the sponsor unless you're five feet away and the rider isn't moving. Which means that, of course, if nobody can read who the hell the sponsor is, what is the good of it anyway? That also automatically disqualifies almost all of your "hot" picks. San Jose? Jeez, you must be about 75 years old, that kit looks like 20 years ago.

Ms. Reviewer: It's obvious you and your girlfriends do not like Vanderkitten, but on a personal level... not a fashion level.

They had a one-rider road team in 2007, yet they are included in a "team" kit discussion with "teams" like VeloBella, Webcor, ValueAct, TIBCO, etc.

It's sad, because last I checked Vanderkitten:

-Gave over $10,000 in cash to Women's Cycling in 2007.-Pledges 20% of their sales to women's cycling for 2008.-Has sold hundreds of kits worldwide-Started a Non-Profit to raise money for women's cycling-Is working for Equal Compensation for Women Athletes (is YOUR team?)-Is a company that was founded by a husband in the image and likeness of his kick-ass wife, and inspired by his mother's death-defying battle overcoming breast cancer and poverty... and this is just what I've read on the internet.

Holy shit, I think those kits are in fact THE BEST LOOKING KITS I'VE EVER SEEN! Thank god someone gives a shit about women's cycling!! Without that kitty, we'll all be racing for Luna-bar primes well into the next Millennium.